IB JORDAN ZUMWALT, UCLA

Started four of eleven games played as a freshman, four of thirteen as a sophomore, and nine of thirteen as a junior. Started all thirteen games as a senior.

POSITIVES:

• Contributed extensively in all four seasons at UCLA, starting over two years combined.• Height is impressive for the position, added a bit of bulk since arriving at UCLA in 2010.• Looks like he has the frame to add weight, potentially up to fifteen or twenty pounds.• Fairly impressive straight-line mobility, allowing him to pursue ballcarriers to sidelines.• Won’t turn down an opportunity to make a big hit, forceful when leading with shoulder.• Active hand use when engaging blockers, helps compensate for lack of bulk/strength.• Forced seven fumbles over the past two seasons, including five over senior campaign.• Also worked on special teams, including blocking kicks and blocking on kick returns.

NEGATIVES:

• Is currently too thin to draw interest from 3-4 teams, needs time in a strength program.• Takes a lot of false steps, commits too quickly and can be manipulated by opponents.• Balance is unimpressive, ends up on the ground more often than he should; poor COD.• Doesn’t absorb contact very well, lacks ideal lower-body strength to anchor vs. blocks.• Not very powerful, seems to slow down into contact, failing to explode into opponents.• Footwork and balance on his zone-coverage drops are very raw, plays better downhill.

SUMMARY:

A tall, fairly athletic player with over two years of combined starting experience, Zumwalt is a candidate to draw some late-round interest from NFL teams, although any team drafting him will have to be patient, as he possesses the frame to bulk fairly substantially, but at the moment lacks the strength necessary to hold up against pro blockers. Additionally, he is a more impressive athlete in a straight line, rather than someone with fluid, controlled movements. While he has experience in coverage, at this point he is more comfortable playing downhill, although he does possess the size and length to work against tight ends. His recognition skills are average at best, allowing him to be caught out of position by opponents. Previous special-teams contributions will help him, having worked on kick return and kick block units in college. May have to work his way up from a team’s practice squad.